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Ukraine's President Poroshenko Says Staying Out of NATO Alliance was a 'Criminal' Mistake

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday told the country's security council that staying out of the NATO alliance was a "criminal" policy that his government is ready to reverse....

"The decision on the non-alliance policy which was announced by the previous government is criminal in terms of security and strategic interests of our state," Poroshenko said, citing an opinion poll showing 60 percent of Ukrainians supporting potential NATO membership.

Poroshenko, who chaired the security council with NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg in attendance, said any decision to join the alliance will be subject to a popular vote.

Before the February 2014 uprising which toppled pro-Russian President Viktor Yanukovych, the majority of Ukrainians opposed joining NATO, but many now see the alliance as their best defense from a foreign military threat.

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